My Flock Journey 2.0

[clawdeen360]

I don’t think Krystal would mind if you posted a pic... I think she is the type to say “the more the merrier!” She is a sweetie
Sorry Krystal if I’m too imposing

Ok

 

[WhoDatChick]

View attachment 1568948
Ok

Oh my! I wanna kiss it!!!

 

[WhoDatChick]

I just showed my daughter and the first thing she said was “I wanna kiss it!”...... we LOVE our kitties and kiss em all day

 

[feathermaid]

Goodness... how could there possibly be this many posts since I've been here? You people are chatterboxes!!

Krystal, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your boys. What a tragic and heartbreaking weekend... I just don't have words.

​

On the brighter side, Congratulations on your first eggs!!!
Hazel had some really good timing for you. None of my girls are laying yet... still.
Jewel is approaching her 3rd winter so she's done til spring. But those youngsters! I don't know what their deal is! Here's Jewel in all her molting glory with the other girls:

and a better view of her saddest molt ever compared to what she normally looks like:

I don't expect the babes to go through a true molt until next year.

we ended up with 88 chilli seedlings using this method!

THAT IS SO AMAZING!!! Did they just take forever to sprout? Seems all my other seeds got roots in a couple days, but the pepper seeds took like 2 weeks... then they grew to a mere foot tall and out of 4 different plants, I got 1 jalepeno and 1 tiny stunted bell pepper. I've tried growing pepper plants every year for the last decade and same thing happens even with potted starts. A little pepper plant costs 3.50 and a big whole pepper is .50 at the grocery store. I'm done growing peppers!!! They don't like me.
I wish you much better luck with yours!

 

[feathermaid]

Jordans getting her a good laying feed on Thursday when im at work.

That’s good! Just feed starter grower to the others.

Hey, I'm thinking it's fine to keep everyone on an all-flock type feed. Has a bit higher protein content, but no calcium to interfere with younger birds growing. Just always offer oyster shell on the side. I know there's much debate over what to feed, but it seems when you have mixed ages and genders all together, that's the best way to go. Otherwise, you're looking at separate pens for the long haul.

So I'm still learning and researching all this, but I think layer feed is just an easy shortcut to get calcium to a flock consisting of all laying hens. There really doesn't seem to be a benefit other than it's easier. So if it turns out to be more work, why feed it?

I went through the same dilemma myself, and just decided that All Flock was a better option in my case.

 

[KLIL]

Hi!! I’m Clawdeen May I join you?

Hi Clawdeen, of course you can join.
My names Krystal. Lovely to meet you

 

[KLIL]

Thanks if I can (idk if I can I'm kinda new here) I can send u the pic ‍

View attachment 1568948
Ok

Omg soooo cute!!!! Your welcome to post anything you like on here love.

 

[KLIL]

Goodness... how could there possibly be this many posts since I've been here? You people are chatterboxes!!

Krystal, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your boys. What a tragic and heartbreaking weekend... I just don't have words.

View attachment 1568922
​

On the brighter side, Congratulations on your first eggs!!!
Hazel had some really good timing for you. None of my girls are laying yet... still.
Jewel is approaching her 3rd winter so she's done til spring. But those youngsters! I don't know what their deal is! Here's Jewel in all her molting glory with the other girls:
View attachment 1568959
and a better view of her saddest molt ever compared to what she normally looks like:
View attachment 1568958 View attachment 1568960
I don't expect the babes to go through a true molt until next year.



THAT IS SO AMAZING!!! Did they just take forever to sprout? Seems all my other seeds got roots in a couple days, but the pepper seeds took like 2 weeks... then they grew to a mere foot tall and out of 4 different plants, I got 1 jalepeno and 1 tiny stunted bell pepper. I've tried growing pepper plants every year for the last decade and same thing happens even with potted starts. A little pepper plant costs 3.50 and a big whole pepper is .50 at the grocery store. I'm done growing peppers!!! They don't like me.
I wish you much better luck with yours! View attachment 1569002

Thank you beautiful. Im still hurt but ill be ok. And Hazel made my day that day and has been laying each day since.

Ohhh poor Jewel she still looks beautiful but. Poor lil darling.
How old are your younger ones?

We used the method of putting them in paper towel and 88 sprouted so we potted them and they are all growing so ill keep you upto date on whats going on with them.

I need a 2nd Avocado tree too.

 

[KLIL]

Hey, I'm thinking it's fine to keep everyone on an all-flock type feed. Has a bit higher protein content, but no calcium to interfere with younger birds growing. Just always offer oyster shell on the side. I know there's much debate over what to feed, but it seems when you have mixed ages and genders all together, that's the best way to go. Otherwise, you're looking at separate pens for the long haul.

So I'm still learning and researching all this, but I think layer feed is just an easy shortcut to get calcium to a flock consisting of all laying hens. There really doesn't seem to be a benefit other than it's easier. So if it turns out to be more work, why feed it?

I went through the same dilemma myself, and just decided that All Flock was a better option in my case.

Did the eggs taste better?

 

[feathermaid]

You sound like a great gardener!

My pullets are 24-25 wks old now, Blueberry is a week older than the other 2. Jewel's original flock of 3 started laying at about 16 wks and all within a week of each other!
My newest ones were hatched in May rather than April (the first group) so I wonder if the time of year makes a difference?

Did the eggs taste better?

I have never noticed a difference in taste at all. However, the color and texture of the shells had changed, but may have been other contributing factors as well. I started a thread about it and received quite a lot of interesting feedback if you want to take a look:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/interesting-what-is-going-on-with-these-eggs.1273582/

Well, I am glad you're starting to feel better. Just know we're all sending good thoughts your way